Unlicensed dental clinic operating openly

Although there have been many directives from the province, the health sector and localities to inspect, examine, handle and rectify the operations of private medical facilities, after the inspections and examinations, many unlicensed dental facilities in the localities are still brazenly operating in defiance of the law and advertising very ostentatiously.

Unlicensed dental clinic operating openly - authorities helpless? Although not licensed, Saigon Dental Clinic (address: Apartment A2.1, Tan An market, Tan Binh, Pham Van street, Dong Ve ward, Thanh Hoa city) is still operating openly (Photo taken on the afternoon of June 8, 2023).

"Breaking into" an illegal dental clinic

On the afternoon of June 8, 2023, it was noted that at Smile Dental Clinic (address: 742, Le Lai Street, Quang Hung Ward, Thanh Hoa City) and Saigon Dental Clinic (address: Apartment A2.1, Tan An Market, Tan Binh, Pham Van Street, Dong Ve Ward, Thanh Hoa City), there were staff members receiving patients and directly examining and treating patients with specialized dental treatment equipment. At the time the reporter was present, there were patients and staff in the dental treatment room area performing dental treatment.

According to local residents, these establishments have been openly operating in the area for a long time.

Previously, on the morning of June 4, posing as a person going to see a dentist at commercial apartment No. 15, Building B (1st floor), Ruby Apartment, Lam Son Ward (Thanh Hoa City) - an unlicensed, unlicensed dental clinic was receiving customers and examining and treating many customers with specialized equipment. Immediately after receiving information and images and videos about the activities of the above clinic, the authorities, Lam Son Ward authorities, and Thanh Hoa City People's Committee were present to clarify. However, by the time the authorities arrived, the room had been locked; customers, patients, staff and people wearing white coats had left the place.

On June 5, speaking to reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga, Vice Chairwoman of Lam Son Ward People's Committee (Thanh Hoa City) said: The ward has not yet received any application for a dental clinic's operating license at commercial apartment No. 15, Building B (1st floor) of Ruby Apartment. The Ruby Apartment Management Board said that over the past month, many people have been coming and going at the above apartment; some equipment and items have also been transported here. The person who pays the living expenses for commercial apartment No. 15 is Ms. Nguyen Thuy Ngan. After inspecting the scene on the afternoon of June 4, Lam Son Ward has directed the monitoring of signs of illegal medical examination and treatment activities and is inviting Ms. Nguyen Thuy Ngan, representative of the above commercial apartment, to work to find a solution.

Also on the morning of June 5, the Department of Health confirmed that it has not yet granted an operating license to any dental facility at commercial unit No. 15, Building B (1st floor) of Ruby Apartment, Lam Son Ward. The fact that medical examination and treatment activities are conducted inside without a signboard can confirm that it is an underground, illegal operation. According to the decentralization, the authority to handle this belongs to the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa City and Lam Son Ward.

Don't handle it like "kidnap and leave the plate"

Among the unlicensed dental clinics in the province that the reporter recorded, all are located on main roads, have large billboards and openly operate without a license. This makes people skeptical about the quality of inspection, examination and supervision by localities and units?!

After receiving information reflecting on Dong A Dental Clinic (address 133, Nguyen Dinh Ngan Street, Long Anh Ward, Thanh Hoa City) blatantly operating without being licensed by the competent authority. In order to promptly manage and rectify non-public medical examination and treatment activities in the area, the Chairman of Thanh Hoa City People's Committee requested the Chairman of Long Anh Ward People's Committee to direct relevant agencies to conduct inspections and handle Dong A Dental Clinic (if there are violations), report the results to the City People's Committee before March 17, 2023; at the same time, report to the Chairman of the City People's Committee on issues beyond their authority.

On March 16, the Chairman of Long Anh Ward People's Committee sent an official dispatch to Thanh Hoa City People's Committee regarding the inspection of Dong A Dental Clinic in the ward. According to the content of the dispatch, before the actual inspection, Dong A Dental Clinic had the following business documents: Certificate of practice of medical examination and treatment No. 036446/BYT-CCHN issued by the Minister of Health on December 29, 2017; License to operate medical examination and treatment No. 1-9-2021 issued by Thanh Hoa Department of Health; Certificate of business registration No. 26 V81244, dated August 3, 2021 issued by the Finance - Planning Department of Hoang Hoa district. All of the above documents are under the name of Vu Hoang; business location: No. 125, Trung Son, But Son town (Hoang Hoa). Dong A Dental Clinic (address: 133 Nguyen Dinh Ngan Street, Long Anh Ward, Thanh Hoa City) is a place for propaganda, reception, introduction, and transfer of patients to But Son Town (Hoang Hoa) for examination and treatment of dental-maxillofacial diseases. At the time of inspection, Dong A Dental Clinic was closed and inactive.

On March 30, Thanh Hoa City People's Committee continued to issue an official dispatch requesting the Chairman of Long Anh Ward People's Committee to conduct an inspection and final handling of Dong A Dental Clinic. The official dispatch also stated that Long Anh Ward People's Committee has not seriously implemented the inspection, handling and reporting content to Thanh Hoa City People's Committee on the inspection of Dong A Dental Clinic. By April 3, Long Anh Ward People's Committee had established a team and conducted an inspection of Dong A Dental Clinic. Through the actual inspection, this facility has all business documents (Certificate of practice of medical examination and treatment; License for medical examination and treatment activities and Certificate of business registration). However, up to now, Dong A Dental Clinic still does not have documents from competent authorities permitting it to conduct business activities in medical examination and treatment, dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery. The inspection team has drawn up a record, requested to temporarily suspend operations and required the facility to complete the paperwork and procedures when permitted by competent authorities before resuming business operations. The inspection team has drawn up a record requesting Dong A Dental Facility to close and cease operations from April 5, 2023.

During the reporter's investigation, although the authorities have requested to stop operating, some dental clinics in Thanh Hoa City are still openly operating, such as Smile Dental Clinic (address: 742 Le Lai Street, Quang Hung Ward, Thanh Hoa City); Saigon Dental Clinic (address: Apartment A2.1, Tan An Market, Tan Binh, Pham Van Street, Dong Ve Ward, Thanh Hoa City) and Dong A Dental Clinic has moved to the house next door at 133 Nguyen Dinh Ngan Street, Long Anh Ward.

Pharmacist CKII Bui Hong Thuy, Head of the Department of Private Medical Practice Management (Thanh Hoa Department of Health) said: The fact that dental, maxillofacial, and denture facilities are still operating "underground" is a burning issue for the health sector. We have organized and coordinated with all levels and sectors in the province to conduct inspections many times, but this situation has not been controlled. The health sector is very concerned, looking for a way to completely resolve it in the near future. However, there is a current problem that Thanh Hoa province is large, there is a lot of private medical practice, while the health sector's workforce is thin; the role and responsibility of local authorities are not clear, and the government system in some localities has not unanimously participated...

In fact, unlicensed dental clinics are a "hot" issue in many localities in the province. Meanwhile, the health sector still lacks drastic solutions, local authorities are lax in management... The responsibility for this situation lies with the health sector and localities. Inspections in the private medical sector are regularly conducted by the health sector and localities, but the quality of the inspections is still debatable. And, no one can guarantee that the operations of these "underground" medical examination and treatment facilities do not affect the health and lives of the people. The inspection and handling in a "beating the drum and leaving the stick" manner makes public opinion skeptical... And public opinion also raises the question of whether or not there is "backing" for dental clinics to operate "underground" without being thoroughly handled. And this is also a big loophole, showing the laxity and lack of close supervision in the management of some local authorities and related management levels and sectors.

Article and photos: Ha Phuong

Source